Santa Cruz

Take a virtual ride-along with SCPD

The Santa Cruz Police Department is inviting the public to partake in its first "virtual" ride-along Thursday.

Officer Carly Cross' activities and public interactions will be documented via photos, short videos and tweets during the day on the department's Twitter account @SantaCruzPolice and under the topic #ridewithSCPD. The department will also offer crime statistics and other information throughout the day via Twitter. The effort is expected to run from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and may continue in the future.

Santa Cruz

Half-price on all puppy and dog adoptions

In an effort to make room for new incoming animals in need of shelter, the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter (SCCAS) will cut the adoption price for all puppies and dogs by half for the remainder of June.

All adoptions include spay/neuter, microchip (including registration), age appropriate vaccinations, routine treatment for fleas/worms, collar and leash, and a free pet wellness exam with local participating veterinarians.

The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is located at 2200 7th Ave. For more information and to view adoptable animals, visit scanimalshelter.org online.

Watsonville

Free pet clinic set for Saturday

Free rabies and distemper/parvo vaccinations will be provided at Healthy Dogs Shots Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Planned Pethood South Clinic, 150A Pennsylvania Ave.

Free microchipping also will be available. The clinic is open to pets of all Santa Cruz County residents.

APTOS

JACL hosts annual picnic

The Watsonville-Santa Cruz Japanese American Citizens League will hosts its annual Community Picnic from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 28 at Aptos Village Creek Park, 100 Aptos Creek Road.

Santa Cruz

Wilder Ranch to celebrate Independence Day

The public is invited to travel back in time with the California Department of Parks and Recreation for its Old Fashioned Independence Day Celebration from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wilder Ranch State Park cultural preserve.

Organizers are asking people to meet at 11:45 a.m. at the apple orchard in front of the Highway 1 tunnel with a musical instrument or noisemaker, dressed in early 1900s costume, or pulling a decorated wagon to participate in the parade.

The parade travels through the complex to front lawn for flag raising, speeches, and patriotic music. Also featured at the celebration will be a cake walk, historic lawn games, draft horse wagon rides, crafts, live old time music and food and drink for sale.

Admission to the event is free; parking is $10 per car. For information, call 831-426-0505.

SANTA CRUZ

Rotary presents July 4 firecracker race

The Sunrise Rotary Firecracker 10K 5K race at 8:30 a.m. July 4 will benefit The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Cruz.

Aptos Fleet Feet provides long sleeve shirts for top finishers in 10K and 5K. Breakfast follows the awards ceremony.

Kids 10 and younger can join in a 1K fun run that starts at 8 a.m., 30 minutes before the main event, just outside the back of Costco, on Harvey West Boulevard.